O.K.- so the redwood ain't as soft and easy as I had thought. BUT, it was much easier to burn. The doug fir takes a long l-o-n-g time to get the desired effect, and redwood bubbles up "like that".

So here's what I've been toying with these past weeks...

each one is about 1' to 1 1/2' tall.

I've also been making pendant-sized pieces to sell at T.O. 8. Each one is different, but they all kinda look like this:
I just have to decide how to thread 'em. A hook-eye in the top, or a dangerous drilling expidition thru the core? I don't have a drill press, so I'm afraid that I might wreck a bunch with a wobbly drill hand thru fragile charred wood.

Lee, I just started delving into trying to work wood into a Witco look as well, but you're obviously way ahead of me, these look fantastic! I've been playing with cedar the last couple of weeks and today tried calling around for redwood (ironic now that I've read this thread and see that I'm basically following a few steps behind you). I found a couple of places that stock 2x8's, but won't sell to the public. One told me I could get Lowe's to order it from them for me, so I'm going to pursue that. Anyway, very impressive work you're doing!

By the way, are you carving with a chainsaw? I tried it but just can't control it like I want. I finally switched to making the main cuts with a router and then deepening and shaping the cuts with assorted sanding & carving bits chucked up in a moto-tool.

I finally got around to actually carving something these past weeks. Fighting foreclosure is a Royal Bitch and I don't recommend it to anyone because it messes up Everything in your life. Anyway, it's been almost a year since I carved something and I finally got the chance to get back to it. Can you say "RUSTY?" Man, I've forgotten a whole lot. I have to get back to Palm Logs before I forget everything I've been taught.

Anyway, here it is:

It's about 36" tall by 12" wide in Redwood. I made it for my folks' patio. They have a small orchard of Orange Trees, so my Wife Gloria suggested I make this guy holding an Orange. And there you have it... Not too bad, but not as good as I wanted it to be, either. Gotta keep practicing without the dag-gone long down-time in between!

nice stuff lee. love all the designs you use, gotta agree with little lost tiki. did you ever find the cedar or redwood planks? you might try glueing a few pieces together to get your desired width. just a thought.